It is said pregnancy is one of the most beautiful and magic moments in women’s life. To make these words true, fitness should take an important part in this period. However, many are afraid of hyperthermia in this period.Read this article to find out why hyperthermia in the least what can happen to a pregnant woman during exercise.
By now people have a clue that exercise is a really important thing to do on a consistent basis. It can manage weight status, improve blood sugar levels, augment joint health, even help with psychological stuff. This is more important while being pregnant with a new bundle of joy.
Exercise should be the primary way to help maintain a healthy pregnancy. Unfortunately, too many women are not performing exercise on a regular basis. Some of these reasons could be doctors guidance, lack of time, or you just being plain ol’ tired.
Some of these reasons are valid and understandable since I or any male has to endure this marathon that’s called “gestation”. But, the excuse of fatal harm due to hyperthermia should not be one of them. Hyperthermia is a fancy way of saying your body can’t cool itself down when it gets too hot.
Reasons why you should not worry about hyperthermia
1. Circulation
At rest, there is a 40%-50% increase in blood volume that happens during pregnancy¹. This means more blood is readily flowing throughout the body including near your skin surface. Even when you are just sitting watching your favourite T.V. shows. Great because the more blood flow near the skin surface, the more heat can escape the body via heat dissipation. Additionally, something super awesome happens in your body during exercise while pregnant. While your heart is increasing blood flow, your veins are opening up more to allow this blood increase to occur. Hence why you get that “flushed/redness” during vigorous exercise 2. I think I am going to let the equation sum all of this up for me:
Pregnancy⟹ increased blood flow+dilated veins=heat dissipation.
2. Sweating
During pregnancy, your sweat rate increases and sweat threshold significantly decreases (unless you are one of those people that calims you don’t sweat at all).
In other words, you sweat easier and more during pregnancy. This improves their ability to dissipate heat by evaporation. With more moist on the skin during exercise, the ability to keep the body temperature lower. Research claims that an effective thermal mechanism is combining evaporation and increase blood flow towards the skin.
3. You are a woman
No, seriously. Because of the fact you are woman, you can prevent hyperthermia effectively. Research have shown that women are physiologically efficient because they tend to sweat less and manifest a higher heart rate when working in heat. (Remember, the higher heart rate, the more heat dissipation). No, it is not because woman have more sweat glands or other thermoregulation mechanisms compared to men. But, it is simply because women have less body mass.
Overall, sweat while exercise is a great thing. Just make sure you communicate with your doctor throughout your gestation and enjoy the journey!
References
- Clapp, J.F. & Cram, C. (1998). Exercising through your pregnancy. 2nd Edition. Addicus books.
- McArdle, W.D., Katch, F.I., & Katch, V.L. (2009). Exercise physiology: Nutrition, energy, and human performance. 7th edition. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins publications. New York.
